Between 2015 and 2016, the West African region and the Sahel experienced major elections, mostly in a peaceful, credible manner according to various reports of international observers. Countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria and Togo are now cited as examples of peaceful elections and democratic political changes.

1) While a recent increase in August precipitation has led to more favorable ground moisture, a delayed onset and uneven rainfall distribution observed during the June-September season may negatively impact cropping and pastoral conditions in the region.

1) A premature cessation of rains for bimodal regions of southern Ghana, Togo, and Benin has led to increased moisture deficits and negative impacts. A delayed onset of the rainy season, followed by poorly-distributed rainfall has led to abnormal dryness across western and north-central Nigeria.

Around 1,900 IDPs and 2,500 residents in Bissingalé locality have been forced to flee to the nearby Kaga-Bandoro town in the north of the country following armed attacks by unknown gunmen on Site-Nana, Bissingalé and Ndémayo villages in Kaga-Bandoro on the night of 15 May. Ten people were killed in the raid which happened five days after the signing of an agreement between armed groups and the government to end hostilities and begin a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process.

Armed groups on 15 May released 357 children, many younger than 12 years following a
UNICEF-facilitated agreement with the leaders of anti-Balaka and ex-Seleka militants. UNICEF
and partners have begun providing psychosocial support and working to reunite the children
with their families and will be supporting their reintegration into the community. This is the
single largest release of children associated with armed groups in the Central African Republic
since violence erupted in 2012.

On October 3, the Government of Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of 22 million US dollars (approximately 2.4 billion yen) through the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other international organizations in order to respond to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West African countries.